A tattoo artist has come under fire after giving a permanent tattoo to a 9-year-old girl, sparking outrage online.
The artist shared on social media that he tattooed an American flag on the girl, who was accompanied by her parents. According to the post, the family traveled to Yuma, Arizona, from out of state for the procedure.
Initially, the girl wanted a tattoo of Donald Trump on her neck, but the artist persuaded her to opt for a patriotic design instead. A year later, now aged 10, the girl returned to the shop for a touch-up.
The artist explained, “I convinced her to go for something more patriotic. I told her to think about the Trump portrait for a year. She came back at 10, asking for a touch-up on the red in the flag. She had also changed her mind about the Trump tattoo.”
Despite his claim of attempting to deter the family by quoting a high price, the parents accepted the cost without hesitation.
The video of the tattoo session, posted by the artist, triggered widespread criticism online. One TikTok commenter wrote, “Any artist with common sense would have refused her.” Another added, “Tattooing a nine-year-old is scummy. You can refuse service to anyone.”
Defending his actions, the artist stated, “In Arizona, it’s legal to tattoo a child with parental consent as long as it’s not forced and the child genuinely wants it.” He also noted that the girl’s family admired Donald Trump and viewed him as a hero.
Arizona has minimal tattoo regulations, requiring no licensing for tattoo artists. However, Ben Shaw of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists emphasized that legality doesn’t equate to ethical practice.
“This kind of behavior degrades the reputation of professional tattooists,” Shaw said. “If people see a 10-year-old with a professional tattoo, it reflects poorly on the industry as a whole.”
While the family expressed gratitude for the experience, the incident has reignited debates about ethical boundaries and the responsibilities of tattoo artists.
